CHENNAI: Long-serving editor of UNESCO Courier (Tamil edition) and well-known patron of scientific Tamil literature, Manavai Mustafa is no more. He passed away on Monday, at the age of 81.
Mustafa is renowned for his contribution towards coining new Tamil words in various scientific fields. After the publication of UNESCO Courier ceased in early 2000s, Mustafa headed a team engaged in translating Britannica Encyclopaedia in Tamil. He is the author of several books related to classical Tamil, technology, medicine and information technology. He has also published eight dictionaries, containing lakhs of scientific terminologies in Tamil language.
Among the various awards he received for promoting scientific Tamil literature is the prestigious “Kalaimamani award” presented by former Chief Minister M G Ramachandran.
DMK working president M K Stalin went to the residence of Manavai Mustafa and paid his last respects.
Stalin said Mustafa was a close friend of DMK patriach M Karunanidhi.
Describing Mustafa as the father of scientific Tamil, S Thirunavukarasar, president of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, said he had worked tirelessly for the development of Tamil. MDMK general secretary Vaiko recalled that his book Islam and religious harmony won an award from the State government. Vaiko said Mustafa’s death was not only a personal loss but also to the wider Tamil community. PMK founder S Ramadoss described his contribution to science and Tamil as unparalleled.